How to Use a Blood Pressure Monitor

Routine blood pressure measurement is a good thing, but it can be difficult to get an accurate reading if you have “doctor fear” – a sudden increase in blood pressure every time you see a healthcare worker wearing a standard stethoscope. medical examination for himself. So self-measurement of blood pressure can eliminate this fear and help you find the average blood pressure value in daily life.

Table of Contents

Install the kit

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Open the sphygmomanometer box. Sit at the table to create a comfortable position for assembly. Remove the airbag, stethoscope, pressure gauge and bulb from the box, being careful when untangling the pipes.

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Raise your arms to the level of your heart. Raise your arms to a height so that when you bend your elbows, your elbows should be level with your heart. This is to ensure that the blood pressure reading is not higher or lower than the true value due to the effect of blood weight. It is also important that you rest your hand while reading the number, so rest your elbow on a flat surface.

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Wrap the airbag around the upper arm. Most airbags have a velcro for easy fixation. If you’re wearing a shirt with long sleeves or a thick fabric that you have to lift up, you can only wrap the airbag around very thin sleeves. The bottom edge of the bag should be about 2.5cm from the elbow. ^{[1] X Research Source}

Some experts recommend measuring blood pressure in the left arm, others suggest measuring both hands. However, during practice, you should use your left hand if you are right-handed and vice versa.

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Wrap the airbag tightly but not too tight. If the cuff is loose, the pressure of the air bag on the artery is not satisfactory, then the measured blood pressure value is not accurate. Conversely, if you wrap it too tightly, it will lead to “high blood pressure due to airbag wrapping” and the reading will be inaccurate. ^{[2] X Research Source}

This condition also occurs when the airbag is too short or too narrow for the upper arm.

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Place the tip of the stethoscope on your arm. The tip of the stethoscope (also known as the diaphragm) must be pressed against the skin surface on the inside of the arm. The edge of the diaphragm is located just below the air sac and above the brachial artery. Then you gently place the two headphones in the ear.

Do not hold the tip of the stethoscope with your thumb because the thumb has its own pulse, making it difficult to determine the correct reading.
It’s best to hold the tip of the stethoscope steady with your index and middle fingers, so you won’t hear the thump until you start pumping air into the bag.

Start measuring blood pressure

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Pump air into the bag. Squeeze the bulb briefly to inflate the airbag, and keep squeezing until the hand of the meter reads 180mmHg. The pressure in the bag presses against a large artery in the biceps, temporarily disrupting blood flow. That’s why air bags often make us uncomfortable every time we measure blood pressure.

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Drain valve. Gently turn the valve on the bulb counter-clockwise so that the air is released evenly but slowly. Always look at the watch, for accurate results you should release the air so that the needle runs back at a speed of 3mm/sec. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

It can be a bit difficult to release the valve while holding the stethoscope, so you should deflate the valve with your hand wrapped in the airbag and hold the stethoscope with your other hand.
If there are people nearby you should ask them for help, that will make the blood pressure measurement process much easier.

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Note the systolic blood pressure. While the pressure is decreasing you use the stethoscope to listen for a thumping or knocking sound. As soon as you hear the first beat you must record the pressure value on the watch at that time, this is the systolic blood pressure.

This value is the pressure exerted by the blood on the artery walls after the heart beats or contracts. It is the larger of the two pressure values to be measured and is recorded in the high pressure location. ^{[4] X American Heart Association Trusted Source Go to Source}
People also call the stamping you hear “Korotkoff sound”.

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Note diastolic blood pressure. Keep looking at the pressure gauge while paying attention to the thumping sounds. Eventually the strong thumps will turn into a “puff” sound, you must watch for this change because it indicates the needle is about to point to the diastolic blood pressure. As soon as the edema sound subsides and you begin to hear nothing more, record the pressure reading on the meter, this is the diastolic pressure.

This value is the pressure exerted by the blood on the artery walls after the heart relaxes between contractions. It is the smaller of the two pressure values to be measured and is recorded in the low pressure location.

Result interpretation

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Understand the meaning of the readings. After noting blood pressure values you must understand what they represent. Please refer to the instructions below:

Normal blood pressure: Systolic blood pressure less than 120 and diastolic blood pressure less than 80.
Prehypertension: Systolic blood pressure 120 to 139, diastolic blood pressure 80 to 89.
Stage 1: High blood pressure: Systolic blood pressure 140 to 159, diastolic blood pressure 90 to 99.
Stage 2 hypertension: systolic blood pressure over 160 and diastolic blood pressure over 100.
Hypertensive episodes: Systolic blood pressure over 180 and diastolic blood pressure above 110. ^{[5] XTrusted Source American Heart Association Go to source}

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Don’t worry if your blood pressure is low. Even if a blood pressure reading is well below the “normal” standard of 120/80, that’s usually not a cause for concern. Assuming your blood pressure is 85/55 mmHg, this is still acceptable, as long as you don’t have any symptoms of low blood pressure.

However, if you experience symptoms such as dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, inability to concentrate, cold and wet skin, gasping for breath, dehydration, nausea, blurred vision and/or fatigue, you should go. Get medical attention right away because low blood pressure can be the result of something more serious. ^{[6] X Trusted Source American Heart Association Go to Source}

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Know when to seek treatment. You must understand that just a high reading does not necessarily mean you have high blood pressure, it can be the result of many different factors.

If you measure your blood pressure after exercising, eating salty foods, drinking coffee, smoking, or during a stressful time, that value may be high but not a true reflection of your normal physique. If the cuff is too loose or too tight, too large or too small for the body size, the readings will no longer be accurate. Therefore, you should not worry about individual readings, especially when blood pressure returns to normal on the next measurement.
However, if your blood pressure is consistently high of 140/90 mmHg or higher, you should see your doctor for a treatment plan, who will usually ask you to change your diet and exercise.
They also consider giving you medication if lifestyle changes still don’t work, your blood pressure is too high, or you have other risk factors like diabetes or heart disease.
If the systolic blood pressure is 180 or higher or the diastolic pressure is 110 or higher, wait a few minutes and then take the measurement again. If the next measurement still gives a high result, you must go to the emergency room immediately because you may be having a high blood pressure attack. ^{[5] X American Heart Association Trusted Source Go to Source}

Advice

You should check your blood pressure about 15-30 minutes after exercising (meditation or other stress-relieving activities) to assess your progress through the measured values. If there is progress, it will motivate you to continue pursuing the practice. (As with diet, exercise is key to controlling blood pressure.)
You should also measure your blood pressure in different body positions: standing, sitting, and lying down (you may need someone to support you). These values help you assess postural variation in blood pressure.
Accept one thing that you will make mistakes and easily get frustrated the first time you learn to use a blood pressure monitor. You have to practice measuring a few times to get used to using the device. Most kits come with instructions, so you should read them carefully and look at the pictures for instructions.
Measure blood pressure when you feel completely relaxed, then you will measure the lowest blood pressure value. You should also try to measure your blood pressure when you’re angry to see how high your blood pressure can go when you’re angry or frustrated.
Keep a diary of your measured blood pressure values. Note the time and date you took your blood pressure, before or after eating and exercising, or when you were agitated. Show this diary to your doctor at your next visit.
Check your blood pressure immediately after smoking, high blood pressure will be the motivation for you to quit. (The same goes for caffeine if you know you’re addicted to coffee or caffeinated beverages; if you like salty crackers, you should also measure your blood pressure after eating salty foods.)

Warning

Self-measurement of blood pressure with a mechanical sphygmomanometer may not be easy to perform, and the results are not always reliable. It is better to ask a family member or friend who has experience in using this tool to assist.

Steps

Install the kit

Start measuring blood pressure

Result interpretation

Advice

Warning

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